Tony has been working with students for 24 years. From coach to teacher to administrator to counselor, he has worn many educational hats through his journey and has enjoyed every step along the way. As a college counselor for 20 years, he has spent a great deal of time tracking the ever-changing landscape of college admissions. Much of his research and information is data-driven, but he is also fully committed to the personhood of each student: he is renowned for guiding students along an individual path to their perfect college community. Tony has extensive experience with students of all kinds and has a deep understanding of the academic and social opportunities at schools across the country. Throughout his career he has spent time on more than 500 college campuses, working closely with admissions officers and college coaches to ensure that students have the chance to thrive at the university level and beyond. Tony founded Coastal in 2014 with the goal of creating a student-first organization that helps to reduce stress and make the college process exciting and awesome. When not meeting with students, Tony can be found at the beach with his wife Megan and daughters Dylan, Sunny, and Zoey. He is an avid cyclist, novice triathlete, and lover of great pizza. 

Albert Cao

Director of Tutoring

albert@coastal-college.com

Amanda is an accomplished educator, writer, and coach and has worked with students, in various capacities, for over fifteen years.  She is committed to the idea that success at the college level is all about finding the right “fit” and believes the search process can and should be a fun, rewarding, self-reflective experience.  Amanda has worked in higher education for over ten years.  She currently teaches and designs curriculum for the history department at Lehigh University. She has a knack for connecting with young people and delivering material in a manner that is meaningful and relatable.  Her students have described her as “incredibly inspiring,” “passionate,” and someone who “just gets us.”  A gifted writer and a published author with Oxford University Press, Amanda relishes in the opportunity to help others find their voice. Students will get to know themselves better and hone their writing chops under her tutelage.  In addition to academic pursuits, Amanda has significant experience within the athletic world.  She competed for the Penn State women’s soccer team as well as the US-U23 women’s national team, served as an assistant coach at Lehigh, and is very knowledgeable about the recruiting process and playing on the college stage. When Amanda’s not giving public talks on her scholarship or buried in a book, you can find her in or near the Atlantic Ocean as a sergeant on the Sea Girt Beach Patrol or, in the winter months, out on the slopes in Vermont as a pro ski patroller. 

Albert graduated as a member of the class of 2020 from Yale University with a degree in political science. Albert, who lives in Freehold, was also a graduate of Colts Neck High School. He has been fostering his love for teaching since high school, when he started his first job as a tutor for middle school students. Albert is also an avid musician, having played violin since the age of 4. He studied in Juilliard School of Music’s Pre-Collegiate program for seven years. He is currently a member of the local Monmouth Symphony Orchestra, and has his own studio of students whom he teaches. Albert prides himself on being able to relate to students going through the standardized test preparation process, drawing from his own experiences. He understands that each student is different, and that a one-size-fits-all approach often puts students at a disadvantage. Instead, Albert opts for a personalized approach, tailoring the preparation process according to each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Albert likes to consider himself well-traveled; he has studied Chinese in Beijing for a summer, attended a classical music festival in Korea, and lived with a Japanese family in the heart of Tokyo for a month. He desperately longs for the day we will be able to travel internationally again.